Crown Meadows Homeowners Association

Grafitti WipeOut 2006

Grafitti WipeOut 2006

Graffiti is ugly. It comes in all shapes and colors and can be found on buildings, highways, fences and other surfaces. It’s often done without permission and it’s against the law. Graffiti is an eyesore that decreases property values, is a drain on tax dollars and makes residents feel unsafe.

The 2006 Graffiti Wipeout Volunteer Day
is scheduled for Saturday, June 3.

The City and several other local organizations, through a partnership called the Graffiti Wipeout Program, are doing a number of things to decrease this vandalism, such as painting over and removing graffiti on public property in parks, community centers, highway overpasses and other areas in designated corridors. But what can you do to get rid of graffiti? Get involved. Report graffiti in progress or graffiti that needs to be painted over. Organize a neighborhood paint out or learn how to create a community mural. Donate paint brushes, rollers or other materials that can remove graffiti. Or learn more about graffiti and the negative effects it can have on your community.

Check out the links on this website http://www.sanantonio.gov/graffiti/ if you want to find out how you can get rid of graffiti. Don’t live with it. Wipe it out!

San Antonio treats graffiti as a crime, not a prank. Below is a general summary of state and local anti-graffiti laws and ordinances.

See the SAPD website for 2003 graffiti crime statistics at: Crime stats by substation and city-wide

STATE LAWS

Texas Penal Code §28.08 makes it a crime to intentionally or knowingly make markings with aerosol paint, indelible marker or an etching or engraving device on tangible property without consent of the owner. Markings can include inscriptions, slogans, drawings or paintings. Penalties are assessed based on the amount of loss suffered by the property owner and may range from fines up to $2000 and/or confinement for up to 180 days, up to fines of $10,000 and/or confinement for 5 to 99 years.

CITY CODES

City Code §21-32 makes it a crime for retailers to sell or transfer spray paint to any person under the age of eighteen (18). Violators may be fined up to $500.00 per offense.

City Code §21-37 makes it a crime for retailers to openly display or store aerosol paint from a counter or other location open to the public. Violators may be fined up to $500.00 per offense.

City Code §21-6 makes it a crime for any person to have a graffiti implement in their possession while on public grounds or public buildings when such locations are closed to the public or on private property when that property is not open to the public. Parents of children under the age of seventeen (17) may be cited for allowing a child to violate this provision of the code. Violators may be fined not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00 dollars for each violation. Second and subsequent offenses may not be fined less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00 per violation.

See how you can team up at http://www.sanantonio.gov/graffiti/teamingup.asp

Get educated. Learn about graffiti, how it impacts your community, and who is responsible for graffiti prevention and clean up in San Antonio. Call 311 or Environmental Services/Keep San Antonio Beautiful, 207-6460

Report graffiti to the appropriate authorities. Call 911 if graffiti act is currently in progress. Call 311 if graffiti act has already been committed

Organize a paint-out. Free paint is available at the City's paint bank located at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 7030 Culebra Road. Also, local paint companies may donate paint and brushes for graffiti cleanup projects. Call Environmental Services, 207-6440

Plan a mural to cover a wall plagued by graffiti. Call the City's Office of Cultural Affairs, 222-ARTS

Coordinate a graffiti awareness campaign at your school or in the community. Call Environmental Services/Keep San Antonio Beautiful, 207-6460 or Public Works, 207-5621

Plant trees or other greenery near a graffiti-plagued wall.

Property owners are advised to install lighting in areas that are dark and often hit with graffiti.

Pick up a paintbrush and volunteer with City departments that do graffiti abatement projects. Call Environmental Services/Keep San Antonio Beautiful, 207-6460 or Parks and Recreation, 207-8452 or Public Works, 207-5621

Organize a crime prevention group in your neighborhood. Call Police SAFFE Officers:
- Central, 207-7413
- East, 207-7566
- North, 207-8350
- Prue, 207-7169
- South, 207-8964
- West, 207-7421

Donate paint, brushes, rollers and other materials for graffiti abatement. Call Environmental Services/Keep San Antonio Beautiful,

Tips to keep in mind when getting rid of graffiti

Over the past two decades, graffiti has become a growing problem for many U.S. cities. In recent years, graffiti writing has spread to neighborhoods in rural and suburban areas. A 1995 study by the National Graffiti Information Network estimates the national costs of graffiti removal to be approximately $8 billion.

Fixing the "broken window"
When discussing the consequences of graffiti vandalism, social scientists and economic advisors often refer to "the broken window theory." They draw a connection between the occurrence of graffiti and a perceived diminished quality of services. Such perceptions have numerous negative consequences on communities. The unconscious connection between graffiti and more serious crimes causes property values and business growth to decline and discourages tourism. Graffiti also attracts other forms of crime and street delinquency to the area; slowly replacing the sense of ownership once common among residents with fear, anxiety and frustration. Finally, graffiti causes large governmental and private expenditures for removal and clean-up efforts. The social and economic consequences of graffiti vandalism attest to the necessity of abatement programs. Graffiti removal should occur within 24 to 48 hours of discovery, bearing in mind the overriding necessity of keeping a business running.

Remove it right

Graffiti may be unappealing to most, but just as ugly are the results of ineffective removal attempts and/or inappropriate or slipshod methods. Unfortunately, many restoration and removal efforts leave surfaces looking as bad (or worse) than they were before the work began. Often this is because involved personnel do not know what agents and methods are required, have not been properly instructed or have ignored city instructions.

Neighborhoods will find proper removal less labor intensive. Consider the long-term effects of repainting an entire surface and saving enough paint for later. The next time the surface is tagged, the touch-up job will blend in perfectly and require minimal repair time.

When painting over graffiti, always:

Make sure to paint a straight and even border to delineate painted area. The easiest way to accomplish this is to drag a paint-covered roller along the surface and then roll the area beneath to ground level.

Try to color-match paint to surface whenever possible.

Always save a few gallons of paint for necessary touch-ups.

Take precautions against drips and spills.

Avoid painting a large surface area more than five times. This prevents the surface from breathing, which can cause long-term deterioration of the structure.After five coats, strip the paint before painting again.

Avoid painting unpainted masonry surfaces (e.g. brick, stucco, marble).
Do not get discouraged. Repeated paint-overs will likely be needed, as the vandals will try again. However, if you remove it promptly, the vandal will realize that graffiti is no longer tolerated in that area and will move on.

Safety guidelines:

Health and safety regulations must be followed in all graffiti-removal and graffiti-protection work. Primary emphasis should be handling and storage of products and their residue, occupational hygiene and personal safety.

Handling and storage of chemical agents:

Solvent-based graffiti removers have de-fatting properties that are liable to cause dermatitis. Skin protection is always needed. Safety goggles should be worn when using chemicals or when working on any overhead surface.
Rubber and/or latex gloves should always be used (barrier creams should not be used as a primary form of protection).

Adhere to application directions on product label.

Proper clothing and footwear (no sandals) should be worn.

Use drop cloths.

Properly dispose of water used to clean equipment.

Properly dispose of unusable paint and solvents. Completely dry paint containers can be put out with recycling.

Hazardous operations must be continuously supervised.

Properly dispose of unusable paint and solvents.

Occupational hygiene:

There are three routes by which substances can be absorbed into the body. They may be ingested through the mouth, absorbed through the skin or inhaled.

Use of drugs or alcohol should be strictly prohibited while working.
Smoking should be strictly prohibited while working.

No eating or drinking while working.

Coordinate a Graffiti Awareness campaign

If your class, school, neighborhood group, business or other organization would like to learn more about what they can do to reduce and remove graffiti, call us. Representatives from the City's Public Works Department, Environmental Services Department, or other entities are available for a discussion and can help your group coordinate a graffiti awareness campaign.

Call Public Works, 207-5621 or Environmental Services/Keep San Antonio Beautiful, 207-6460.

Painting community murals

Painting over graffiti can be a time-consuming task as well as a costly one since graffiti tends to resurface over and over again. Murals are a way to beautify and showcase a community. In large, urban cities, the painting of murals is a positive way to fight the eyesore of graffiti. Graffiti does not only send a negative message about your community, but it also works against economic development.


A community mural allows youth as well as adults to work together and paint a mural in their own neighborhood. It is important that a neighborhood first looks at the resources that exist in their own community such as churches, schools, artists, organized groups and others. A community mural is an artistic and tangible project where everyone in the community has input into not only the subject matter, but in the design itself and the actual painting of it. A community mural establishes ownership of the art piece among the neighborhood residents and helps restore community pride and economic development. It also allows neighborhood youth to be seen as assets rather than liabilities.

After the mural has been painted, it is important that a group is identified to perform the maintenance on the mural, especially if graffiti does resurface.

Finally, it is important to recognize the neighborhood volunteers in front of their peers at a small dedication ceremony.

For more information on creating a community mural, call the City's Office of Cultural Affairs at 207-6965.

Arts in the Community

Another potential resource for community organizations to paint murals is the "Arts in the Community" (AIC) Program. The Office of Cultural Affairs established this program in 1999 to help broaden the access to quality arts programming throughout San Antonio's diverse neighborhoods. Its purpose is to support partnerships between artists and arts and non-arts organizations in all sectors of the community where arts can help to organize and improve neighborhoods, foster community development and stimulate local economies.

Since the program's inception, Cultural Affairs has awarded $362,000 in grants to 47 community arts and cultural projects, reaching all 10 San Antonio City Council districts. The program has had a direct impact on the lives of more than 19,000 individuals by providing art services that have included public art and performances, arts in education programs, neighborhood cultural and heritage initiatives, community art festivals, mural programs and after-school art curriculum.

Eligibility requirements:

The Arts in Community Program is a recurring program every two years. Applications will be taken in 2005 for the next round of grants.

Eligible applicants must establish a working partnership between an artist/cultural organization or individual and a community organization or entity. These partnerships may consist of arts and cultural organizations, individuals, neighborhood and homeowner associations, public schools, universities, community centers, hospital and care facilities, churches, or other community organizations. At least one partner must have IRS designated 501(c)(3) status. A fiscal sponsor may also be used for those who do not hold their own tax exempt 501(c)(3) status.

For teachers

Would you like to coordinate a graffiti awareness campaign for your class or school? Representatives from the City would be glad to teach your students about how they can reduce and remove graffiti in their community.

Just call Public Works at 207-5621 or Environmental Services/Keep San Antonio Beautiful at 207-6460 to learn more about this program or schedule a visit.